Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
932. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the proposal for the establishment of a fund co-financed by industry and Government for the Irish poultry industry, similar to the Dutch animal health fund (details supplied) in order to improve disease control and mitigate financial impacts on Irish poultry farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50725/21]
View answerThe Department is fully cognisant of the very significant financial burden imposed on flock owners in the case of a disease outbreak. My Officials have held several meetings with the Poultry Working Group, a representative group of the Poultry Industry, between March 2020 and July 2021. The objective of these meetings was to get a clear understanding of the PWG’s proposal.
My Officials have conducted a review of the feasibility of establishing a co-financed fund as well as an evaluation of the Dutch Animal Health Fund Model. It is clear that Ireland’s current disease aid framework already provides many of the benefits of the Dutch Animal Health Fund, and in contrast to the situation for Dutch poultry farmers, does so without the requirement for a levy to be paid by Irish poultry producers into a disease fund.
The Department’s review of the PWG proposal is in the final stages of completion. A central consideration is whether a ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach, a key component of the National Farmed Animal Health Strategy, is a more cost effective and a more responsible use of state funds as a support to industry.
My Officials have identified existing and additional measures which could be utilised to support the industry as much as possible to mitigate the risk of disease occurring in the first place. One example of such a measure is my Department’s commitment to co-finance an Animal Health Ireland Poultry Health Programme in a public/private partnership with the poultry sector.
The Department remains committed and fully engaged in providing a wide range of supportive measures in ensuring the industry can operate successfully in challenging circumstances.
